Looking at Finn Beales’ images, it’s not surprising that the photographer, who lives in the Black Mountains of Wales, is inspired by many elements of nature. Through his work, he explores the relationship between people and wildlife through his lens.

“All sorts of things inspire me, but I’m particularly fascinated by the relative lifespan of the world around us compared to ourselves,” Beales told weather.com.

Beales has travelled the world taking photos for clients, travel firms and tourists boards, trying to tell a story.

“I think about where I am and how I might relay the space around me to an audience,” he said. “I try to cover small, seemingly insignificant, details that provide context when married with more obvious frames.”

The adventurous photographer enjoys shooting when the conditions are less than ideal.

“Most photographers will tell you to shoot just before sunset at ‘golden hour’ because the light is soft and beautiful,” he said. “Undoubtedly true, but I like to shoot in really bad weather and have made some of my favorite photographs in really appalling conditions: gale force winds, thick snow blizzards, driving rain. It’s never as bad as it seems once you’re out in it and the resulting pictures can be far more dramatic.”

In addition to shooting in bad weather, he also enjoys “misty mornings.”

“Water droplets in fog or mist make light scatter more than it would otherwise,” said Beales. “This softens light, but also allows it to streak from concentrated sources.”